How to fit drawer runners
Updated: 23 October 2026
The drawer shuts on the left and sticks on the right. That is usually a runner longer than the internal depth, or two sides that are not parallel. This is how to fit drawer runners on a wooden side-mount cabinet: measure the clear inside, pick a runner shorter than that depth, and fix both sides level before you trust a damper. The [drawer runners comparison](/hub/diy-supplies/drawer-runners) is where the pairs and prices sit. This is a screw-on method from UK trade notes, not a lab fit, and a qualifying amazon.co.uk purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
The drawer shuts on the left and sticks on the right. That is usually a runner longer than the internal depth, or two sides that are not parallel.
The drawer shuts on the left and sticks on the right. That is usually a runner longer than the internal depth, or two sides that are not parallel. This is how to fit drawer runners on a wooden side-mount cabinet: measure the clear inside, pick a runner shorter than that depth, and fix both sides level before you trust a damper. The drawer runners comparison is where the pairs and prices sit. This is a screw-on method from UK trade notes, not a lab fit, and a qualifying amazon.co.uk purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Nominal length | Screws in pack | Extension | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  REGUDA REGUDA 68 kg side-mount pair | Title 250–1000 mm; row shows 300 mm | Yes | Full extension | 7.3 | about £18.02 | View offer |
 Emuca Emuca 17 × 278 mm, 5 pairs | 278 mm | Not listed | Partial | 8.2 | about £10.41 | View offer | |
| Alternative |  AOLISHENG AOLISHENG 300 mm silver pair | 300 mm | Bullet says yes; one UK review says missing | Full extension | 7.0 | about £8.38 | View offer |
On this page
Measure inside the cabinet
Empty the drawer before you lift it, and support the box. You need three lengths, all inside the carcase: the closed length of the old runner, the clear internal depth from the back panel to the inside of the front edge, and the gap each side. Measure both sides. One side 3 mm deeper than the other is enough to make a new pair bind.
Do not measure the outside of the cabinet or the drawer front. Eurofit Direct's guide, for its own runners, says you take the longest runner that fits and you step down between sizes. A runner longer than the opening will not let the drawer close. Open travel is the wrong number to order. The slot itself is on the 17 mm groove drawer runners page.
The gap each side is not one number
Side clearance is brand-specific. REGUDA's unlocked pair asks for 12.7 mm each side. Accuride's own 3832 is tighter, at 12.9–13.2 mm, and the gap has to stay parallel. Those tenths are Accuride's. They are not a licence to open a REGUDA gap to 13.2 mm.
Eurofit's width deductions, 26 mm or 38.4 mm off the opening, are Eurofit-only. Copying them onto AOLISHENG or REGUDA produces a drawer of the wrong width. Aspin Collins's check is opening minus drawer box, divided by two. If that is nothing like the figure on your runner's own bullet, the box or the runner is the wrong one.
Fit a side-mount pair square
Separate the members before you drill. FURNIWARE, both AOLISHENG listings, REGUDA, and the HBL soft-close pair have a release lever. A 17 mm pack usually does not. Furnica and Häfele UK say you mark both cabinet sides from one line, set the cabinet member about 2 mm back from the front edge, use the slotted holes first, and check with a spirit level. That 2 mm setback is their method. If your sheet says flush, follow the sheet.
A proud screw head rubs the balls, so use countersunk screws in pilot holes. REJS, NBYTLT, and Emuca do not include screws in the packs we recorded. Dry-fit both sides and slide the drawer on empty. If it binds, loosen the slotted holes and tap the high side down before you drive the fixed holes.
Stop if the cabinet is the weak part
If the chipboard side is already split, a new pair in the same crumbs will sag within weeks. If a pipe or a cable crosses the runner line, you are rerouting a service. Clip-on undermount systems are out of scope. Forcing a screw-on pair into that clip will not give you a soft close. Call a joiner when the side is blown, or the drawer was built for a clip you do not have.
A drawer that will not close is still length, a shared line, or a proud screw. Forcing the box shut bends the member. If the old side is a 17 mm groove and you bought a 45 mm kitchen slide, change the part.
Common questions
What if my depth falls between two lengths?
Step down to the shorter runner. Eurofit Direct states that for its own range, and a runner longer than the internal depth will stop the drawer closing on any brand. A few millimetres short is a small loss of extension. A few millimetres too long is a drawer that will not shut. Confirm the variant if the title lists a range and the size row shows one length.
How wide a gap do I leave each side?
Use the figure for the runner you bought. REGUDA's unlocked pair asks for 12.7 mm each side. Accuride's 12.7 mm 3832 is specified at 12.9–13.2 mm, and that tolerance is Accuride's alone. Eurofit's 26 mm and 38.4 mm deductions are Eurofit's. Aspin Collins's check is opening minus drawer box, divided by two. The gap also has to be parallel, or the members walk apart.
Why must both runners be level?
If one side sits higher, the drawer racks. It then binds, wears the balls on one edge, or trips a damper early. Furnica and Häfele UK both tell you to strike one line and check it with a spirit level across the pair. Slotted holes exist so you can nudge that line before the fixed screws lock it. A twisted pair is the first thing to fix when a soft-close drawer stops short.
The drawer will not close. What do I check first?
Check length, then level, then a proud screw. A runner longer than the internal depth cannot finish its travel. Sides that are not parallel make the box wedge, and a screw head in the ball track does the same. Empty the drawer before you blame a damper. Forcing it shut bends the steel.
When should I stop and call a joiner?
Stop when the chipboard is split, a pipe or cable crosses the runner line, or the drawer uses a clip-on undermount you are trying to replace with screws. Slotted holes will not straighten a carcase that is badly twisted. Changing a 17 mm groove drawer into a 45 mm kitchen slide can mean cutting the box down, which is past a straightforward refit.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources and the amazon.co.uk listings compared on this page. Listings captured 19 October 2026. Updated 22.10.2026.
- BS EN 15338:2024 preview (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- SI 2005/1803 General Product Safety (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- GOV.UK: General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- FIRA: furniture and product safety (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Trading Standards: Consumer Rights Act, goods (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Eurofit: what size drawer runners (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Albert Jagger: ball bearing slides explained (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- T&S Architectural: replacement drawer runners (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- amazon.co.uk drawer runner listing (retrieved 22.10.2026)